Feb. 26, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Purdue baseball team committed five errors to help pave the way to a 13-5 loss to Villanova in its season opener at the second annual Big Ten/Big East Challenge on Friday.
The Wildcats outhit the Boilers 15-12 on the afternoon, and fielding miscues in the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings led the way to five unearned runs in the contest.
The two schools traded runs in the first and third innings for a 2-2 tie before Purdue took its only lead of the game at 3-2 on a RBI double by freshman Kevin Plawecki in the fourth.
The Wildcats tied the game on a throwing error in the fifth and took advantage of another wild throw in the sixth to score two more runs to pull ahead for good.
A five-run eighth inning by Villanova broke open what was a close contest, and the big inning added with the defensive woes eventually proved too much for Purdue to overcome.
The Boiler's Jon Moore returned from a knee injury suffered early last season to pace Purdue at the plate. The senior centerfielder finished the game 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI.
The Boilermaker freshman class had an impressive debut, with Plawecki, Cameron Perkins and Brad Schreiber all chipping in at the plate. Plawecki finished 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI in his first career start behind the plate, while Perkins hit a solo home run in the seventh for his first collegiate hit and Schreiber delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth.
Villanova's Matt Szczur led the way for the Wildcats, finishing 5 for 6 with a double and four runs scored. Teammate Tyler Sciacca added three RBIs, including a solo home run, and Adam Nelson chipped in with a pair of hits and four RBIs, including a bases-clearing, three-run double in the eighth.
On the mound Nova's Brian Streilein (2-0) picked up the win despite allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. The Wildcat right-hander struck out four and walked four.
Reliever Kevin Crimmel notched his first save of the year after shutting down the Boilers to just one run on five hits over 3 1/3 innings of work. The southpaw finished with three strikeouts and no walks.
Purdue starter Matt Bischoff (0-1) was victimized by the poor Purdue defensive effort and was saddle with the loss despite allowing only one earned run. The Boiler right-hander was charged with an additional four unearned runs over six complete innings while striking out two and walking three.
Purdue will attempt to rebound on Saturday when it squares off against Cincinnati at 1 p.m. at Jack Russell Stadium, the former spring training site of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Boilermakers defeated the Bearcats 9-8 last year in the first game of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge. Junior Matt Morgan is the scheduled starter.